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Canada got the last hurrah at the Celebration of Light Saturday evening, closing the three-night event with a winning display. Canada was declared the winner of the event, with Brazil and China finishing second and third, respectively.

Bodin Issara chases Maneepong Jongjit after a dispute between the two Thai badminton players turned into a physical altercation Sunday at the Richmond Olympic oval.

Photograph by: William Luk
, Taiyangbao.ca

METRO VANCOUVER -- Shuttlecocks were traded for straight jabs Sunday afternoon at Richmond’s Olympic oval as the doubles finals of a world-class badminton tournament turned into a fist fight between two former partners who had represented Thailand together in London last summer.

Fans at the Canada Open 2013 shouted in disbelief when Bodin Issara dropped his racket mid-match and chased Maneepong Jongjit into the neighbouring court, throwing haymakers onto his former playing partner until coaches and tournament staff pulled the two apart.

A stunned Jongjit rose from the floor shirtless while a fuming Issara was cornered by others.

A video of the spat was being shared rapidly on Facebook and YouTube by Sunday evening.

Both the players teams were immediately disqualified and Issara required two stitches to his ear, according to tournament medical staff. Badminton Canada has yet to decide if the two who fought will be further penalized.

At the start of the match, the two were warned by the ref for a verbal exchange.

As recently as this January, Issara and Jongjit were ranked one of the best duos in the sport before the former announced his surprise retirement to look after his ailing mother and because of an injury and personal reasons, according to the Bangkok Post. Issara soon started competing again with another partner and an online badminton magazine cited his dissatisfaction with Thailand’s training facilities as the real reason behind his temporary retirement.

Richmond RCMP were on the scene, but no charges have been recommended to Crown as of Sunday evening.